Senior Day to be a grand slam

Written by Lauren Farnsworth

June 18, 2009

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Ottawa County Senior Resources and Neidecker, LeVeck and Crosser Funeral Home are teaming up for a homerun.

They are sponsors for the fourth annual Senior Day at the Park, which will be held June 24. The event includes a ticket to the Mud Hens noon game, air-conditioned transportation to and from the ballpark, lunch at the stadium and an ice cream from Mel O Crème on the way home.

“We are seeing at our senior centers that the average ages are in the 80s,” said Dianne Martin Mortensen, coordinator of Ottawa County Senior Resources. “People are living longer and doing more at an older age. This provides an opportunity for them to engage in activities and have something to do.”

Sue Duff and her husband Walter will be among the attendees this year.

“We really look forward to it,” said Sue.” It’s so easy to go with Senior Resources because you get dropped off at an easy location by the gate, and you get your lunch and you get to sit and enjoy the ballgame.”

Michelle Waldron, of Neidecker, LeVeck and Crosser Funeral Home, and Mortensen, came up with the idea for the trip. Waldron explained that the Mud Hens have senior days that offer reduced ticket prices and lunch.

To make the trip more appealing, they decided to offer transportation. According to Mortensen, seniors might not otherwise be able to attend.

“They’re probably not going to go by themselves, drive down there, try to find a place to park [walk to the gates], it’s just too much for them so this provides an excellent way for them to get out and do something,” said Mortensen.

“They have a really good time, they get to see people that maybe they haven’t seen in awhile,” said Waldron, trip coordinator. “I think it benefits them to have some social networking. It’s better for them than being at home, especially if they’re widowed or something like that.”

Although love of the game is what sparked Bill Fredericks interest, he gets much more out of the event.

“We get to meet people that we ordinarily don’t get to meet. It’s a very enjoyable day for us older people,” he said with a laugh.

The coordinator of the trip, Michelle Waldron, of Neidecker, LeVeck and Crosser Funeral Home does not work for Senior Resources. The funeral home collaborates on a lot of the trips provided through Senior Resources.

She said, “We at the funeral home think it is very important and rewarding giving back to the community that embraces us.”

The event is for anyone 55 or older and costs $25. At press time, there were 20 tickets still available. If interested please contact Michelle Waldron at 419-732-3141 or 419-898-4455.

Senior Resources other upcoming events include an Ice Cream Social on the 4th of July, Senior Day at the Ottawa County Fair (July 22), a picnic in Port Clinton (Aug. 7) and Day at the Bay (Sept. 4).